The Many Things at Christmas

 

Dear Prayer Warrior,

Joyeux Noel! Praise God for the refocusing on the Messiah that Christmas brings. Dress code at work has permitted much self-expression, affirming that I have been wearing my nativity shirt to work because we ran out of nativity sets November week 2. You may not find Jesus on our shelves but you will find Him on my chest.

Renee has taken her crafting to the next level in decorating our home. Move over Buddy the Elf, Renee is gunning for best in decor. I suggested to Renee that she come up to Denver on my most recent visit to see Grandma French (my mom) and to decorate her “apartment”. Renee was excited to do so. She packed three bags full of stuff to do up there, she planned the entire afternoon with grandma. We made a wonderful chain link garland, computer paper snowflakes, and a gingerbread house. Renee did not hesitate to tell us if we were doing the crafts not to her liking. Lola (who is like a second mom to me, when my father died she moved in to help raise us for many years until she married) joined us. It was an afternoon I didn’t want to see come to an end.  On the way home I told Renee that it was her planning and preparing that made for such a wonderful Christmas time with Grandma. It was a wonderful time of bonding with Grandma.

Amid Victor’s tears and screams regarding brushing his teeth, I looked at him puzzled and calmly asked for his eyes. I said “Victor why do you fuss over things that we do everyday? You know we need to do it, why?” Amid his teary eyes he said, “because I’m learning.”  That was such an encouragement to me because I was starting to think we were just kicking a dead horse. Recently, Victor has upped his game when it comes to hitting, throwing, mess-making, and screaming. It has been hard to show him the boundaries repeatedly. May the Lord draw from this a child with a propensity to obey His commands one day. Praise God for the gift of children.   

 

Praise God for:

-faithful, faith-filled friends that share meals and their lives with us. Their walk with God is shared with us, they make time for us, therefore we are greatly encouraged onward in Christ because of this.

-A child’s eagerness for Christmas.

-a Christ honoring song. Since November 1^st it has been one Christmas song after another at work. There are no songs about Jesus being played. As I toiled at Target last weekend amid the stress and hurry of retail work, sometime in the middle of the afternoon, I heard a song playing on the overhead singing throughout the whole store “Glory to God, for His Son the Savior of the world, Hallelujah, hallelujah” It was a slow thought-provoking song, I had never heard it before. I stopped what I was doing and asked the others if they are hearing this. I prayed that all the ears in the store would hear and reflect on the best gift of Christmas. There hasn’t been another Christ honoring song since.  I have heard “the Cowboy Christmas Ball” and “Last Christmas” a nauseating amount.  

Please Pray for:

-Anna’s health. She is enduring her second Urinary Tract Infection of the winter. Pray that the infection is cast out and that we can get ahead of the ball again on preventative care for those UTI’s.

-Anna’s care. We are trying new companies for therapy (occupational therapy and speech) and for her durable medical equipment (stander, chair, transfer lift). There are many meetings, many options, and all of which has to funnel through our two insurances. May God sovereignly drive us to the right people and things to increase Anna’s ability to communicate and strengthen.

-Grace in grief. I’d be surprised if there is a day that goes by that I don’t think of Simon. With Christmas coming, its tempting to gloss over our loss or deny the longing for his company and cover it up in busyness. Instead, we are making time for recollecting, sharing with one another his current heavenly disposition with wonder and awe. Always thanking Jesus for the loan of love He gave us in Simon.

-A new fellowship. Amid ongoing changes at my church in leadership, ministry, and order of service, last week they added discontinuing Saturday night services to the changes. I work Sundays and find it spiritually negligent to stay there and “go when I can.” We weren’t planning on going anywhere, we developed so many fruitful bonds there amid our brothers and sisters. This church brought us to the Lord, counseled me, loved us, and pleaded for us during our loss of Simon.  There are certain children’s ministry leaders who deposited eternal encouragement that took root in Simon enabling him to be ready upon his “untimely” death.  After praying, talking, overthinking, google searching, and hoping in the Lord, Lindsey and I have decided to ask God if growing a house church on Saturday nights is what pleases Him the most.  There are other churches around that provide a Saturday night service however they are far enough away that any ministry outside of going to service would be difficult to attend. Starting over at a church with Anna is difficult. Amid the flurry of church scrolling, I found myself consumeristic in thought as I evaluated them. That bugs me greatly. As we transition away, we depend on prayer for wisdom, leading, and continued fellowship.

-Me to grow deeper in devotion, humility, deeper in faith, to consider the higher call of spiritual shepherding beyond my family. That God would show me the cost and the greater accountability. I have set up a coffee meeting with a guy experienced with house churches to check if our hearts are in the right place.  I plan on looking into Francis Chan’s big push for house churches about 10 years ago through the We Are Church holistic ministry model. Thanks for your prayers.  

Merry Christmas, may the grace of God overflow your cup in this season. 

Nic, Lindsey, Anna, Simon, Renee, and Victor